Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
842. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will supply a timeline, with documentary evidence of steps taken and decisions made by the management cell to deal with continued high sea lice levels recorded at a salmon farming operation (details supplied) in County Donegal throughout 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57891/12]
View answerThe specific measures for the control of sea lice are set out in the “Strategy for improved pest control on Irish salmon farms” published by my Department in 2008. In accordance with this Strategy, when lice levels above the treatment trigger level are recorded at an offshore salmon farm a notice to treat is issued to the operator by the Marine Institute. If the initial treatment is not successful in reducing lice infestations to the required level a second notice to treat is issued, if the subsequent treatment does not result in reduction of lice infestation to the desired level the management cell process is invoked.
In relation to the site identified by the Deputy, the first management cell was held on the 30th of May 2012. While significant reductions in lice levels had been observed following treatments in late April levels in May were above the treatment trigger levels. The management cell, in consultation with the veterinary surgeon responsible for fish health at the site, recommended the use of new equipment to enhance the efficiency & efficacy of treatments and a follow up inspection to assess the outcome. While levels in June were below treatment trigger levels, by July lice levels at the site were again above treatment trigger levels. A second management cell was convened on 29 August.
The management cell on 29 August concluded that all reasonable efforts to control lice levels at the site were being taken. It further concluded that having regard to the prevailing high water temperatures, the health status of the fish, the age and size of the stock and the time of year relative to the migration season of wild stocks that the most appropriate option was to carry out an accelerated harvest of all stock to ensure that the site would be fallow by the end of December 2012.
The stocks were harvested and the site was fallow by 19 December 2012.
My Department’s policy on sea lice controls in relation to farmed salmon is strictly evidence based. The control protocols as illustrated above are operated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State and are more advanced that those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:
- the inspection regime is totally independent of the industry
- data obtained as a result of inspections is published
- treatment trigger levels are set at a low level
These controls are regarded as representing best practice internationally.
